Jailing of former Minister serves as a warning — 17.07.2009

Crime and Misconduct Commission Chairperson Robert Needham says today’s jailing of former Queensland Minister Gordon Nuttall for offences relating to secret commissions serves as a strong warning to all public officers that they must adhere to the highest possible ethical standards when serving the community.

Mr Nuttall was found guilty of corruptly receiving almost $360 000 from two prominent Queensland businessmen, Ken Talbot and Harold Shand, over three years.

The evidence led at Mr Nuttall’s trial showed Mr Talbot made 35 corrupt payments to the former Minister totalling almost $300 000 between October 2004 and September 2005. Mr Shand made one corrupt payment of $60 000 to Mr Nuttall in April 2002.

Today Mr Nuttall was sentenced to seven years jail for each offence to be served concurrently and will be eligible for parole on 2 January 2012.

‘Ministers of the Crown occupy important places in public life and have the potential to wield influence. As such, it’s vital that their actions, and those of senior public officials, are ethical and transparent. Their professional behaviour must be open and accountable,’ Mr Needham said.

‘The community has a right to expect that public officials at all levels, from the Premier to the most junior public servant, perform their duties in an unbiased way and that decisions they make are not affected by self-interest, private affiliations or the likelihood of personal gain or loss.’

‘Let today’s sentencing be a warning to other senior public officials who might contemplate similar improper behaviour that it’s not worth the risk. You will get caught.’

Mr Shand will face a separate trial later this year. A date is yet to be fixed for Mr Talbot’s trial.

Postscript

Nuttall corruption sentence increased. On 7 June 2011, the Court of Appeal increased former minister Gordon Nuttall’s sentence for official corruption offences to a seven-year term of imprisonment. Read more about the investigation.